Puzzle-padlock.



W. S. ROGERS.

PUZZLE PADLOGK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, 1911.

1,013,566, Patented Jan.2,1912.

AVAILABLBWPY WINFIELD 8. ROGERS, 0F BAN'IAM, CONNECTICUT.

PUZZLE-PADLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 28, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

sci-m1 No. 623,835.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WINFIELD S. Rooms, a citizen of the United States, residing in the town of Bantam, county of Litchfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzle-Padlocks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to puzzles and has for an object to provide a. lock which will .baflie one seeking to unlock it even though in possession of the key.

Another object is to provide a lock with a two part key the part appearing to be the key not being such in fact, and the part appearing to be a mere ornament being in reality the eflective key.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification one form of my invention is illustrated as'applied to a padlock, wherein Figure 1 illustrates this look in elevation. Fig. 2 is a view showing the front plate removed. Fig. 3 is a section taken at about the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and, Fig. 4 is an enlarged View of the key.

The lock herein illustrated comprises a bodyportion 1 and a hasp 2 of a conventional form of padlock. The body portion is comprised of a front plate 3, a back plate 1, and a rim member 5 which spaces the plates apart, the plates being shown riveted together in the usual manner. The hasp is pivoted to the body portion and is actuated by a spring 6 located within the casing as it were of the body portion. This spring normally tends to hold the hasp open. A spring 7, provided with a catch 8 is shown within the casing for holding the hasp in its closed or locked position by engaging a suitable member 9 on the hasp.

The body portion is shown provided with a centrally located conventional key hole 10. This key hole however, is shown as substantially cruciform and is the same in the front as in the back plate. The body portion is also provided with a plurality of symmetrical openings 11, those in the front plate being shown registering with those in the back plate, the form of the holes in the present instance being circular. These holes are promiscuously disposed about the body portion of the lock. with the exception of one opening 12 which is disposed adjacent the tumbler'of the lock-the catch portion 8 of the spring 7.

The key for the lock comprises two portions, one a conventional key portion 13, the suppositious key, and the other the real or effective key 14. These portions are shown connected together in the present instance by a flexible connection 15 in the form of a chain. The p0 n 13' of the key is so constructed that '11 enter and register with 'at whichever side of the It will also register with at ziach side when inserted in either of two positions at substantially right angles one with the other. There are four ways to put the suppositious key into the key hole. Or if we consider that the suppositious key may be put into the key hole in one position or turned through an angle of 180 degrees and inserted in the same portion of the key hole, we may say that there are eight different ways in which the suppositious key 18 may be put into the key hole. The portion 14 of the key the actual keyis illustrated of the same conformation as the contour of the openings 11. Upon the introduction of this portion 14 into the opening 12 which is adjacent the catch, or tumbler 8, the catch may be disengaged from the hasp permitting this to open.

In the operation of the puz'zle the operat-or will insert the portion 12 of the keythe suppositious key-in the key hole therefor, and while appearing to be haying difficulty in turning this key will insert the portion 14tthe actual keyin the hole 12 adjacent the catch or tumbler and release the hasp.

The two portions of the key are fastened together by a flexible connection so as to facilitate the sleight of hand operation, and also to enable the operator to state truthfully that this thing is the key which will open the lock.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a lock, the-combination with a casing, of a tumbler located therein, the casing being provided with a conventional key hole and an opening adjacent the tumbler, and a suppositious key for entering the conventional key hole and an actual key for entering the said opening.

2. In a lock, the combination with a casing, of a tumbler located therein, the casing being provided with a conventional key hole and an opening adjacent the tumbler, and a key having a portion formed to enter the conventional key hole and a portion to concurrently enter the said opening.

3. A puzzle padlock comprising a body and a hasp, a catch for the hasp carried s within the body, the body being provided with a conventional key hole and with a plurality of symmetrical openings promiscuously disposed, one of such symmetrical openings being located adjacent the said catch, and a key embodying a suppositious key formed to enter the keyhole and having a portion conforming in contour to the symmetrical openings and constructed and adapted to engage and actuate the catch when inserted in the said adjacent opening.

4:. A puzzle lock compr""'ng a body portion having a key hole of ventional form Copies of this patent may be 11;. a.

openings a catch mounted within the body and located adjacent one of said promiscuously disposed openings, and akey embodying a portion formed for entering the said conventional key hole, and a portion formed for entering one of said promiscuously disposed openings and constructed and adapted to engage and actuate the catch when inserted in said adjacent opening and a flexible connection between said key portions.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WINFIELD S. ROGERS.

for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

